LA Bowl: Fresno State vs Washington State 12/17/22 College Football Picks, Predictions, Odds

The Fresno State Bulldogs and Washington State Cougars clash Saturday night in the college football Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl at SoFi Stadium. The Washington State Cougars look to win at least 8 games for the first time since 2018. The Fresno State Bulldogs look for their fourth double-digit winning season in the last 6 years.

The Washington State Cougars have won 3 of their last 5 non-home games. Cameron Ward is completing 64.1 percent of his passes for 3,094 yards, 23 touchdowns and 8 interceptions. De’Zhaun Stribling and Robert Ferrel have combined for 1,119 receiving yards and 9 touchdowns, while Donovan Ollie has 43 receptions. The Washington State Cougars ground game is averaging 112.7 yards per contest, and Nakia Watson leads the way with 736 yards and 8 touchdowns. Defensively, Washington State is allowing 22.4 points and 394.1 yards per game. Daiyan Henley leads Washington State with 106 tackles, Brennan Jackson has 6 sacks and Sam Lockett III has 3 interceptions.

The Fresno State Bulldogs have won 4 straight non-home games. Jake Haener is completing 72.6 percent of his passes for 2,616 yards, 18 touchdowns and 3 interceptions. Jalen Moreno-Cropper and Nikko Remigio have combined for 1,819 receiving yards and 10 touchdowns, while Zane Pope has 46 receptions. The Fresno State Bulldogs ground game is averaging 125.7 yards per contest, and Jordan Mims leads the way with 1,161 yards and 16 touchdowns. Defensively, Fresno State is allowing 20.5 points and 350.8 yards per game. Levelle Bailey leads the Fresno State Bulldogs with 82 tackles, David Perales has 10.5 sacks and Cam Lockridge has 5 interceptions.

The Cougars are 1-5 ATS in their last 6 neutral site games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The Bulldogs are 2-8 ATS in their last 10 neutral site games and 4-1 ATS in their last 5 games overall. The under is 10-3 in Cougars last 13 games overall. The over is 5-2 in Bulldogs last 7 games overall.

You can argue the Washington State Cougars are the better team here, but I don’t trust Pac-12 teams given their reputation, and they can’t run the ball, which plays into Fresno State’s hands given it’s 23rd in pass defense. We’re also getting free points with a Fresno State Bulldogs team that hasn’t lost a game since October 8. Haener is also an NFL prospect, going against a Washington State defense that’s 112th in pass defense. Give me Fresno and the free points.